SONGS OF JOY IN TOUGH TIMES

SONGS OF JOY IN TOUGH TIMES

Psalm 40:2,3
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth –
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.

The song of The Lord becomes part of the very make up of our souls. As a result, this song sustains us in the darkest of times. The worldly man sings songs of joy only when things are going well for him in this world. For the Christian, we have no such limitations. Our songs of joy are not even related to our present circumstances. Our songs are spiritual in nature and flow out of the relationship with Christ that burns in our souls. We have tasted His love, we have been touched deeply by His power, and we have sensed the nearness of His coming kingdom. What else can we do but sing for joy. Here is how Jonathan Edwards saw this song in relationship to our troubles in this world.

“How great does the rejoicing of this company that John saw in his vision seem to be in singing this sweet song. So engaged were they in it, and so loud and sweet was the melody of their united voices, that John seems not know how to express it, and therefore uses various similitudes. Says he, it was “as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder,” and as “the voice of harpers harping with their harps”. The joy and praise and melody were inexpressible. This song is fit to be sung in the mournful and sorrowful times. We have always reason to sing it, whatever afflictions we may be under, and there is support and joy to be had in the melody of it in the darkest times. This is the song that God gives in the night in the night of affliction. ‘Tis very proper to sing this new song on a death bed. And many of the saints have sung it then, and thereby have triumphed over death; yea, many have sung this new song in the flames of martyrdom and have exulted in the midst of torments. The joy and sweetness of it is enough to carry the soul above pain and above the cruelty of men and devils.”

This new song is actually a foretaste of our incredible life to come. When the reality of that other world is in us, the troubles of this present life lose their sting. This is the way Paul was able to sing from the dungeon in Philippi, this is how John endured his isolation on Patmos, and this is the strength that kept Peter in his martyrdom. All of us face troubles in this life, only those who know the new song can actually face their troubles with joy.